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Comparative Politics

How valid is any general statement about politics? Through the study of countries other than our own, we have the opportunity to ask about the degree to which political phenomena occur in different nations or in different types of political systems. Intermediate courses suggest comparisons within particular regions of the world such as Latin America or Western Europe. Advanced courses stress current scholarly debates and controversies.

POLSC 250(W) Comparing Countries Examination of the core concepts, theories, and issues in the field of comparative relations. Topics include: Comparative analysis of democracies and democratization, revolution, and ethnicity and ethnic conflict. Cases can be drawn from Africa, Asia, Western Europe, the Americas, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Prereq/Coreq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/2/B; PD/A; Pathways: World Culture and Global Issues

POLSC 251(W) Politics of Africa, Asia and Latin America An examination of the nature of governance and politics in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Through in-depth study of several countries, students explore topics and concepts such as political culture, modernization, development, dependency, democracy, political leadership and the processes of policy making. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B

POLSC 255(W) Government and Politics of Japan and Korea Political, social and economic institutions of Japan and Korea; their domestic politics and relations with the world. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B; PD/A

POLSC 263(W) Government and Politics in the Middle East Introduction to Islamic societies and their politics with particular attention to cultures of region. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B; PD/A

POLSC 264(W) Government and Politics of Israel Historic evolution of the Jewish state and its political system, social issues and foreign policy. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B

POLSC 322(W) Social and Economic Policies in Western Europe and the United States Evolution of social and economic policies from the 19th century to the present. Policies are analyzed in light of tensions between democracy and capitalism. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent) and Any Course in Amer Pol or Comp Pol. Only open to students who have completed 45 credits and 9 credits in PolSc. Not open to students who have completed PolSc 315. Counts as either American or Comparative (but not both). 4 hrs, 4 cr; GER/3/B; PD/D

POLSC 352(W) State and Society in Africa An examination of the nature of the relationship between the African state and civil society in the post-independence period and how this relationship influences governance and democracy. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B

POLSC 353(W) Social Movements, Civil Society, and the State in Latin America Analysis of the role of popular and opposition movements in Latin America and their relationship to the state, from the challenges to the dictatorships of the 1970s through the contemporary neoliberal economic order and democratic polities. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent) and Any Course in Comp Pol. Only open to students who have completed 45 credits and 9 credits in PolSc. 4 hrs, 4 cr; GER/3/B; PD/A

POLSC 356(W) India's Democratic Experiment Assesses the nature and durability of India’s democratic political system. Examines key events, personalities, institutions, and movements in Indian politics from Independence (1947) to the present. Focuses on the challenge of adapting democratic institutions to circumstances of extreme social diversity and economic deprivation. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent) and Any Course in Comp Pol. Only open to students who have completed 45 credits and 9 credits in PolSc. 4 hrs, 4 cr; GER/3/B; PD/A

POLSC 360(W) Democracy & Development in a Globalizing World The course examines the relationship between democracy and development in post-colonial countries. Questions include: What relations of causality, in either direction, have political scientists sought to establish between democracy and development? What is the impact of globalization on these relations? How can historical analysis help to illuminate these and other issues, such as why some countries have been better at promoting per capita income growth than others? What efforts have been undertaken – by individual citizens, by civic groups, by aid donors – to plug the democratic deficits that arise in the course of pursuing development under 21st Century conditions? Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent) and Any course in Comp Pol. Only open to students who have completed 45 credits and 9 credits in PolSc. 4 hrs, 4 cr; GER/3/B; PD/A

POLSC 378(W) Russian National Interests: Past and Present In a contemporary, historical and comparative context, this course will explore the factors influencing debates on and definitions of Russia’s national interests, the strategies for promoting those interests and the implications for Russia and the international system. Prereq: ENGL 120 (or equivalent) and (PolSc 250 or PolSc 270). Counts as either IR or Comparative (but not both). 3 hrs, 3 cr; GER/3/B; PD/D